Kate Kane’s been through a lot. She lost her sister and mother as a child. She served in the military to follow in her father’s footsteps. She got kicked out of the army because she refused to betray herself. Then, she returned and took up the mantle of the bat, a symbol to serve a greater cause than one’s own survival made infamous by her cousin, Bruce Wayne AKA Batman! A soldier hardened by war, recovering from experiences fighting a Batman-inspired armed unit known as the Colony that her father created, she made the hardest choice of her life: Locking up the person she counted on the most to support her. Now, her mission is leading Kate away from Gotham but possibly back into the hands of her own demons.

The next era of Batwoman’s adventures start here in this one-shot that’ll get you primed and pumped for her ongoing series. We recently learned that Monster Venom is the hottest new bioweapon on the black market. An organization called “The Many Arms Of Death” is planning to take it global. Batwoman must return to the place where she spent some her (and Kate Kane’s for that matter) darkest hours. Learn where Batwoman comes from and learn where she’s going next as the stage is set for the must-read series you’ll be adding to your pull list.

The Caped Crusader is celebrating his 75th birthday this year, and DC Comics has officially declared Wednesday July 23rd 2014 Batman Day!

On 7/23/14, starting at 8am, Forbidden Planet NYC will be giving away complimentary (ie FREE!) copies of DC’s new Detective Comics #27 Special Edition, and FREE Batman anniversary bags. We’ll also have commemorative masks (99 cents per. These are extremely limited and will be sold on a strictly first come, first served basis) and capes for sale ($5.99).

What’s more, we’ll be running a sale(!) throughout the day- 20% OFF all Batman related comics, books, and graphic novels.

Come by Forbidden Planet to celebrate Batman’s 75th on Wednesday the 23rd and save some Bat-dough!

It’s a new year. What better time to set new resolutions, try new things, and, most importantly read new comics. That’s where I come in. Other holidays have their mascosts; Santas and bunnies and…turkeys… and cherubs I guess… And now me. I am the Ghost of Good Comics That Will Be Canceled if You Don’t Read Them. I am your Jacob Marley. I am your conscience. Now I am going to bully you into trying a new comic you will love. You’re welcome.

Let’s start it off with the basics. You probably like comics because they are great. You probably like Spider-Man because he is amazing (or superior). You probably should be trying a new book because that is a moral imperative. While Dan Slott and co. make you wait for the debut of their new SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN, Marvel newcomer Joe Keatinge gives one of Spidey’s most fun pseudo-villains a series of his own. MORBIUS THE LIVING VAMPIRE #1 comes out today. Mr. Keatinge has been working on comics for years but has really made a name for himself in the past year with Image books like HELL YEAH! and GLORY. Morbius on the other hand has been kicking around the Marvel Universe for decades while rarely getting his proper due. He is an interesting character and Mr. Keatinge is an interesting writer, making this one a no brainer for the superhero set. These last 10 years have seen the big 2 companies face a nearly impossible battle of trying to diversify their titles. Great characters like Guardians of the Galaxy, Secret Six, Sentry, OMAC, and tons more have withered on shelves because readers won’t branch out. If you have ever been in a comic shop and said to yourself “why does every book have “BAT” or “SUPER” or “X” or “AVENGERS” in the title?” the answer is that you won’t buy books like Morbius. Do us all a favor and give an interesting book a chance. Or wait patiently for Marvel to make a book called X-Avengers. RIYL: SPIDER-MAN, GLORY, or any new characters ever getting books at the big 2.

BLACK ACRE #1 was an interesting idea. Private, walled-off cities that weathered an apocalypse and now stand on the brink of collapse in the wastelands of America. Well, BLACK ACRE #2 hits this week. Comics is a difficult medium because it is episodic so it requires a series to open with a bang and really grab you. Some of the classic ones can do it on page one. Some of the others take a full 22 pages. Here’s the thing, BLACK ACRE never grabbed me like that at all. It is smart, well written, has a great setting, and nice art. It doesn’t have that hook though. It feels a lot like a movie, a whole lot of setup that seems like it is building towards something, but it isn’t there in the opening. It is hard to quantify why though. I put down issue #1 fully entertained and satisfied, but not at all curious. Now a month has passed and I find myself pretty excited for #2. And I think that is what BLACK ACRE has and why it shines. It isn’t playing a lot of the games other books are playing. It does it’s own thing and it’s clever enough to know that should be enough to keep you coming back. And here is the book I thought I had forgotten, worming it’s way to the top of my pile. RIYL: Smart dystopian sci-fi like JUDGE DREDD or WASTELAND, or near future action stuff like DMZ, or films like ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK.

FATALE vol. 2: THE DEVIL’S BUSINESS comes out this week. Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips have spent a few years chipping away at the title of best creative team in comics. They pretty much have it in the bag but they want to put a bunch of FATALE out to make everyone else look stupid. In the realm of crime writers Brubaker now stands nearly alone in terms of quality. And in the realm of noir-ish cartoonists Phillips has very few challengers. After SLEEPER, and CRIMINAL, and INCOGNITO, these two have done some of the best crime comics ever made. FATALE is their crime comic cum Lovecraft. It’s Cthulu noir. It is better than everything else and if you didn’t buy the first one you made a horrible mistake. Buy the second one with the first one now. This book gets all the recommendations I have to give. RIYL: Crime. Horror. Good things.

47 RONIN #2 is also out now. Mike Richardson is the founder of Dark Horse comics and has done more to raise the quality of comics than everybody but a very select few. Stan Sakai has been drawing and writing USAGI YOJIMBO for 2+ decades. The legend of the 47 Ronin is one of the most beloved and badass legends in all of human existence. Richardson & Sakai are teaming up to do a very authentic and faithful retelling of this story and it is really entertaining. Most importantly they are taking a hundreds of years old legend and making it feel relevant and fresh. Unless you read a lot of manga a book like this will be like a slap in the face, in the best possible way. Best part of all, it looks like USAGI YOJIMBO with humans… and that is just weird fun. RIYL: USAGI YOJIMBO, manga like LONE WOLF & CUB, BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL, or SAMURAI EXECUTIONER, and classic tales on the level of Homer or Brother’s Grimm.

RED TEN #1. A new take on Agatha Christie’s AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, this is a superhero revenge and murder mystery from the folks at upstart publisher Comixtribe. The big guys in superhero comics like to borrow liberally from the great stories of western culture and act like it’s theirs, and here Tyler James and Cesar Feliciano do the same only these guys believe in their work enough to site their influences openly and know that RED TEN still stands up on it’s own. Basically self published, put together because they care and believe the story is good and matters, and fought and hustled all the way on to comic shop shelves, this book is nothing if not a product of pure passion. Reward the creators who are fighting hard to get their stories out there for you. Pick up RED TEN and let them know that you appreciate it. RIYL: Whodunnit style superhero mysteries like BATMAN: HUSH, high stakes superhero events like SECRET WARS, or fans of BATTLE ROYALE style mayhem.

COUNTRY ASS-WHUPPIN’ is an awesomely named new anthology from the usually quite good folks at 12-Gauge Comics. This single issue is full of a variety of weird and fun tales by some of the better southern gentlemen & lady creators in comics. Jason Aaron (SCALPED, WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN, THE HULK), Cully Hamner (R.E.D., DETECTIVE COMICS, GREEN LANTERN), Rebekah Isaacs (ANGEL & FAITH, DV8, HACK/SLASH), and a bunch more all throw down solid stories. Best part of the whole thing? Proceeds are donated to the Red Cross tornado relief fund. You get good comics by great creators and help people in the process. It is quite possible if that doesn’t interest you that you may be a bad person. Think about it. RIYL: DARK HORSE PRESENTS, the Vertigo anthology books, helping people in need.

And that’s it for me. I am sure there is a lot of other good stuff worth grabbing this week, just make sure you get something. Happy new year. Love, GGCTWBCYDRT

This has been the easiest column to write of my long career…because I didn’t write it! OR DID I?! No, I did not, but my CLONE did! That’s right, in order to better multitask I have developed a clone-o-matic so that all of my necessary daily tasks (sweeping up the cave, writing my columns, eating, etc.) can be performed while I engage in weightier pursuits…like finally finishing Zelda II: The Adventures of Link. That game is tough!

Well, I already have to step in to editorialize. Clunkie’s written here “Darhrazz 8” and then a sort of squiggle. Due to me taking this particular clone out of the tank a little early his hands aren’t strictly speaking hands…he can grip but his nailless fingers are sort of boneless and stumpy. I think IT is trying to recommendDark Horse Presents #8 which, on top of some great new stuff from Brian Wood and Howard Chaykin promises to have a Hellboy B.P.R.D. tie-in story. It’s a good book to cover.

Speaking of which, Clunkiedev has scribbled a sort of moist rectangle with a Superman symbol, the number 6 and a big “X” through it. I think It is as disappointed in the cover to Action Comics #6 as I am…sort of a green and purple blob in which Superman is stuck as though in a Japanese tentacle manga. It reminds me of Clunkie’s forehead…see eyelashes are really hard to clone, and they came out all…never mind. AC #6 has a lousy cover, but I’m sure Grant Morrison’s superlative writing on these Super-books will be top notch.

Two covers that leap off the shelf areFear Itself The Fearless #8 and The Twelve #9! Fear Itself The Fearless is the spin off series from last summer’s Fear Itself event. Good Marvel fun. The cover, however, is the best Art Adams has to give! Amazing perspective, detail and poses as only Adams can deliver. Continue reading →

Happy Halloween FPNYC Faithful! Hope whatever you have planned for this/weekend doesn’t involve being dressed as M.O.D.O.K. and drinking a ton of tequila, because that’s my plan for the year (and as of writing, it’s been 12+ hours later and I’m STILL hung over). That being said, anybody pick up Arkham City for their Xbox or PS3 yet (I think PC users still have to wait a bit)? The game is damn good, as it improves on several things from Rocksteady‘s previous release, the million units selling Arkham Asylum. If you’re a fan of Batman and/or excellent video games, it’s worth your time.

And if you’re a Bat-video game fan, you REALLY need to pick up the Arkham City tie-in graphic novel. I know, I know, tie-in books usually blow and are usually widely ignored when it comes to the actual game’s, but things are different with this one. It’s written by the game’s head writer Paul Dini (who was also one of the original creators involved with the 90s Batman Animated series, as well as runs on Bat-books like Gotham Sirens & Detective Comics) and drawn by the game’s concept artist Carlos D’ana. The hardcover collects the mini-series & web-only episodes, which connect the 2 games, as well as some behind the scenes artwork. A solid collection to add to your book shelf.

Last week I mentioned I picked up some new Marvel Universe figures, and promised to give a review of them this week. So unless I want to be labeled a liar, I better do so. X-23 & Commander Steve Rogers were the 1st two ML figures I’ve purchased since Spider-Woman, and man, the line has come a far way since then! Hasbro has been getting better with these figures since their debut a few year back, but now it’s really showing how much the line has improved. Continue reading →

It’s been awhile Forbidden Planet Faithful! I’m back after spending some down in Orlando (I rode on Star Tours, YAY!) and now I’m once again ready to tell you what new stuffs FPNYC has gotten in.

And with my return, I’ve brought the NFL with me! That’s right, I’m talking about sports on a comic shop’s blog, but I severely doubt I’m the only dude who’s bought a comic book and follows the Jets on a weekly basis. McFarlane Toys just released their 2nd wave of NFL Elite figures, which is the latest revision of their long-time NFL line of figures. This wave sees 8 releases, including a few returning stars like Tony Romo and Mark “Nacho” Sanchez of my beloved NY Jets, as well as Goth-Wizard & Super Bowl MYP Aaron Rodgers. These are more mini-statues then action figures, which comes as no surprise to anyone who’s purchased a McFarlane figure over the years. But hey, these are pro-atheletes, they shouldn’t be posing with the Justice League, no matter how good of a game Drew Brees throws. The sculpting is solid though, and the details to the uniforms and helmets are NFL accurate. For about $15-20 a pop, you can’t go wrong with these, unless you’re a Patriots fan, then we need to have some words.

Moving on to a more familiar topic, DC has launched it’s new 52 intiative, and despite a rough start with Justice League, the line has been pretty good so far. From someone who was only reading a handful of DC books per month. I now found myself actually caring about the likes Animal Man, Swamp Thing, and Wonder Woman. The Bat-books have been pretty great as well (Detective Comics, Batman, Batgirl, and Batwoman), Demon Knights is incredible as was Action Comics. I’m super-excited for Peter Milligan’s “Justice League Dark”, but man o’ man, Suicide Squad was bad. Real bad. Especially when you remember that Gail Simone’s excellent “Secret Six” was cancelled for it. Which brings me to the 2nd wave of Batman Legacy figures! WE FINALLY GOT A CATMAN FIGURE PEOPLE! AND IT’S FRIGGIN AWESOME! The line also has a Golden Age Batman and a silver-age Barbara Gordon Batgirl, but again, CATMAN! This is awesome and I will kill someone to own it. Each figure goes for about $20 a pop and is comparable to the DCUC line in terms of scale, articulation and sculpt. Continue reading →

By Unkiedev

Marvel tells us that Ultimate X #4 will ship this week. Sure it will. I’ve only plugged it three times, and each solicitation fails to deliver. If the Gods of Comic Books indeed intend to smile on us this week I can recommend few books more than Ultimate X #4. Don’t know the characters? Don’t know the story? Not to worry! Art Adams art is some of the best in the biz…one look at those amazing pages and you won’t care what you’re reading!

AND if you don’t care what you’re reading then I’ve got some great place mats from road side diners you can borrow. They aren’t drawn by Art Adams, so that’s a minus, but they do have fun facts about pirates and a partially completed search-a-word puzzle.

When we grade comic books for resale quality we use terms like Mint, Near Mint, Fine and so on. Descriptions are necessary so we can quantify worth. These terms, however, cannot hope to reflect the actual story in question. We may judge a book by its cover in the Overstreet Price Guide, but there’s no guide for merit.

I’d like to demonstrate three types of comics I like to collect by themes of story quality. Instead of Mint or near mint I’d like to introduce you all to the Fine Art/Indie appeal books, books by talented creators telling quirky stories that stand out from the pack. These books I like to call “Stand Outs.” For example:

I know it’s talking animals and I know it’s a kids comic. Those facts are irrelevant considering how much fun, wonder and top=notch art goes into these stories. I’ll just come out and say it: Beasts of Burden is amazing work from two of the most unsung talents in the industry today.

The stories are weird: Dogs and a cat solve animal based paranormal activities, almost like T.A.P.S. but on four legs. The humor is gentle and all ages, but there is some damn spooky $%*@ in there. The watercolors of artist Jill Thompson are the stuff of legends, and a text book of “YES!” for any aspiring artists today. Continue reading →